Plants annual, roots fleshy. Stems spreading to erect, 3-18 cm. Leaves cauline, not forming basal rosette; blade linear to spatulate, ± terete, 1.5-6 cm, not glaucous. Inflorescences paniculate with umbel-like clusters, dense, usually not exceeding leaves. Flowers pedicellate; sepals ovate, slightly unequal, 2-5 mm, herbaceous, margins white-scarious; petals disarticulate in fruit, 3-5, white, 2-5 mm; stamens 5-10, anther yellow; style present; stigmas 3; pedicel 1-3 mm. Capsules ovoid, 1-4 mm; valves 3. Seeds 6-15, black, ovoid, 1-2 mm, smooth, shiny, reticulate at 30×, not white-hairy. Flowering Nov-Feb. Sandy washes and slopes, desert shrub communities; 0-500 m; Ariz., Calif.; Mexico.

Annual herbs to 10 cm tall. STEMS: spreading to erect. LEAVES: all cauline, linear to spatulate, 1.5-5 cm long. INFLORESCENCE: a panicle of umbellate clusters, up to 4 cm long; bracts leaf-like. FLOWERS: pedicellate; pedicels 1-5 mm; sepals scariousmargined, ovate, 2.5-5 mm long; petals 3-5, white, 2-5 mm long; stamens 5-10; stigmas 3, stalked. CAPSULE: with 3 valves, ovoid, 3-6 mm long, equal to or less than length of calyx. SEEDS: 6-15, black, smooth, shiny. Sand and gravel washes, rocky slopes, in desert scrub communities; La Paz, Mohave, Yuma cos.; 0 – 500 m (0 – 1700 ft); Feb-May; CA, Mex. REFERENCES: Allison Bair, Marissa Howe, Daniela Roth, Robin Taylor and Tina Ayers. 2006. Vascular Plants of Arizona: Portulacaceae. CANOTIA 2(1): 1-22.